Leaders of Finland and Norway Hold Rare Direct Talk with Putin on Ukraine Peace

Call initiated by Helsinki and Oslo

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a joint telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, initiated by the Nordic leaders themselves. The call took place from Helsinki and marked the first contact between European leaders and Putin since Emmanuel Macron's conversation with him in July 2025, as reported by BBC News.

What the parties said

Stubb described the conversation as 'frank and substantive,' emphasizing that Finland and Norway are Russia's neighbors and that the outcome of the war directly affects their security and Europe's security as a whole. Støre highlighted the 'tremendous human and material costs' of the war and the importance of de-escalation. The leaders urged Putin to halt the full-scale invasion and begin substantive negotiations, while assuring that military aid to Ukraine—Finland and Norway are among the largest donors—will continue at the same level. The security of the Baltic Sea region and the 'High North' were also discussed. According to Euronews, the Kremlin stated that Putin said a 'just, long-term peace' is possible only with 'full and unconditional consideration of the legitimate interests of the Russian Federation'—a formulation that, according to the outlet's assessment, indicates maximalist demands. After the call, Putin, according to BBC information, accused the 'confrontational' policies of the EU and NATO of prolonging the war.

Connection to Oslo and Abu Dhabi negotiations

The call was presented as a continuation of the negotiation round in Oslo on October 20, jointly organized by Stubb and Støre; it included high-level representatives from Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the European Commission, and NATO, but not Russia. After that meeting, US special envoy Steve Witkoff flew to Saint Petersburg to inform Putin, and Ukraine, Russia, and the United States agreed to resume trilateral negotiations, which Moscow had suspended for several months. The next round is expected in early November in Abu Dhabi in a format similar to the Oslo one, but now with Russian delegation participation. After speaking with Putin, Stubb and Støre called Volodymyr Zelenskyy; the Ukrainian president thanked them for their 'active' diplomatic support and stated that 'Russia must stop prolonging the war,' noting that part of the conversation specifically concerned the upcoming trilateral negotiations.

Reaction in Europe: from criticism to cautious support

Both Nordic leaders emphasized that they spoke on behalf of their respective countries, not 'Europe as a whole,' although, according to Euronews, the European Commission and the EU Council were informed in advance about the call and are working on a unified team to present the EU's position. Nevertheless, the initiative caused a rift among Nordic neighbors: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated she is 'very skeptical' and does not know 'what can be achieved' through such contacts, adding that the conversation was 'not coordinated' with other Europeans. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to Gazeta.Ru citing Reuters, stated that Russia and the United States cannot resolve the conflict without the participation of Kyiv and Europe, warned against a scenario where 'Russia, possibly China, and the United States' end the conflict without Ukraine, while at the same time describing the role of Norway and Finland as 'very constructive.' Notably, over the weekend, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov called the presence of a European negotiator at the table 'good'—against the backdrop of regular accusations against Europe for prolonging the war through arms deliveries.